Half the Global Population Washes Clothes by Hand: Whirlpool Foundation, the Washing Machine Project Helping Address With Thousands of Manual Washing Machines

Global collaboration will help unlock millions of hours for women and girls to improve quality of life, saving time for learning and income-generating activities

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 17, 2024 / The Washing Machine Project, a grassroots organization that provides off-grid manual washing machines to people in low-income and displaced communities, announced today it is collaborating with the Whirlpool Foundation to deliver thousands of manual washing machines to communities and households across the world over the next five years. The work is expected to impact an estimated 150,000 people and address a significant barrier to their advancement and quality of life. Recognized by The Washing Machine Project and the Whirlpool Foundation as the ‘Global Washing Divide,' this collaboration will focus on the estimated 60% of the world's population-or 5 billion people-that rely on washing clothes by hand¹.

In its first five years, the collaboration will help unlock approximately 17 million² hours for women and girls to improve quality of life and halve overall water usage, bringing efficient and sustainable washing solutions where they are needed most. According to the World Health Organization, 70% of households worldwide depend on women and girls for water collection and laundry, which is amplified by the estimate that up to 20 hours each week are spent hand washing clothes in underserved communities globally³. The collaboration will help save time and create opportunities for learning, income-generating activities and more time with family.

"We are honored to partner with the Whirlpool Foundation, whose legacy as a pioneer in home appliance innovation is only superseded by their passion to foster community development and improve life at home for people around the world," said Navjot Sawhney, founder and CEO of The Washing Machine Project. "This collaboration is a testament to what can be achieved when compassion meets technology. Together we are set to revolutionize laundry practices globally, paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous future for hundreds of thousands of people."

The collaboration is funded through the Whirlpool Foundation, with employee volunteers helping The Washing Machine Project refine the design and assemble the Divya Washing Machine, and The Washing Machine Project managing the distribution of the devices.

Divya Washing Machine Impact

At the initiative's core is the Divya Washing Machine, the world's first flat packable manual washing machine that allows users to wash their clothes without electricity or a connected water source. Its simple design reduces the need for prolonged physical effort usually required to hand wash clothes, replaced instead with a simple manual machine that can be used frequently and safely, saving the user up to 76% of the time compared to hand washing clothes³.